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Similar to the hitters on the North Carolina baseball team, each pitcher gets his own walkout song while warming up before their first inning of work during a game. This week, first-year pitcher Luca Dalatri spoke with senior writer Will Bryant about his song choice and what it means to him.

The song

Dalatri chose a song that invokes personal drive. The song “Warriors” by Imagine Dragons has strong lyrics and a memorable beat that can get anyone in the zone.

“I feel like it’s a song that, when I listen to it, it gets me to that next level and gets me pumped up,” he said.

Dalatri didn’t have music when warming up on the diamond in high school, so the process of choosing a walkout song this year was relatively novel, but that didn’t stop him from selecting a solid tune.

“I try to look at the song in the gym or weight room,” he said. “The song that comes on and gets me going. The one that gets me to that next level in the weight room. ‘Warriors’ did just that.”

The meaning

Dalatri uses his walkout to help him gather all his energy. Pitching is an art, and Dalatri uses his song to help get the juices flowing.

“That was the song that kind of pumped me up, and I figured why not,” he said. “No better song. It’s like a pre-workout, I like it.”

The superstition

The first-year intends to stick with his tune no matter what.

“I’m not one of those guys that’s superstitious,” he said. “I’m not gonna change it just for one or two bad outings. I like the song, honestly, I just like it. It’s gonna be my song.”

The opinion

The first-year has received dazzling reviews on his song of choice, but he didn’t gather too much input when choosing it. He found the one that worked best for him and went with it, regardless of the opinion of his teammates.

“I’m glad they do (like it), but it’s my song,” he said. “I’m the one going out there to pitch to it ... it’s what I like to walk out to. It’s definitely a hit in the clubhouse, I guess.”

The values

Dalatri treats his walkout as a vehicle for energy. Whatever song he finds getting him ready when he’s doing work off the field is the one he uses on the field. He’s taking the phrase, “Practice how you play,” to a new level.

The Verdict: B+

Dalatri’s song has intensity and a pump-up vibe. It evokes emotion, allowing fans to feel his passion for the game as he toes the rubber. It may not create the feel-good ambiance of other Tar Heel tunes, but Dalatri’s song means business.

Catch Dalatri and his walkout this Saturday, when he will start Game 2 of UNC’s weekend series with Miami at Boshamer Stadium.